Plans to set a minimum price for alcohol in Scotland have been backed by the Scottish courts.

The Court of Session in Edinburgh ruled against a challenge by the Scotch whisky industry, who claimed the plans were a breach of European Law.

The ruling now paves the way for the Scottish government to implement its policy, passed by MSPs in 2012.

However, the judgement could be appealed by the drinks industry at the UK Supreme Court in London.

Under the plans, a price of 50p per unit of alcohol would be set, taking a bottle of spirits to at least £14.

The Scottish government, health professionals, police, alcohol charities and some members of the drinks industry believe minimum pricing would help address Scotland's "unhealthy relationship with drink".

But the Scotch Whisky Association and wine makers brought a challenge claiming it was a breach of trade law.

They said other policies should be considered as an alternative to minimum pricing, including an increase in tax. [...]

Honestly I see it as having little or no effect. I am in no way sure of the buying power of Sterling, but ￡14 seems all to cheap for a bottle of spirits. (cheap spirits in AUS. $30). It appears political tinkering around the edges s done in an effort to assume that politicians are, if only in appearance, making an effort to solve the problem. An Irishman I worked with once made a remark that the worst drinkers he ever encountered were Glasgow Scots. He referred to them as "professional drinkers". This pride in conspicuous consumption has long blighted the Scottish social scene, (I am not exempt from) and the problem is not availability, (France, Germany, Italy Spain etc. have far more availability as to alcoholic beverages than the Scottish experience), but without the accompanying violence and drinking in danger.

This is developing into a situation where the SNP may finish up shooting themselves in the foot.

Forgetting about the argument for setting a minimum price for alcohol, what is interesting is that the SNP has won the 'first round' by getting the Court of Session backing for their change to the pricing of alchohol. The whiskey association is now threatening to go to the Supreme Court, arguing that this breaks EU trade laws.

I think the issue with EU trade law has already been previously dealt with in 2013 - they passed it back to the local jurisdiction to determine what they do.

With regard to the Scottish Whisky Association (SWA) continuing to pursue the matter via the UK Supreme Court that remains to be seen.

As the SWA products would be largely unaffected by MAP - 80% is exported - I personally don't see whats in it for them other than to incur more legal costs.

The 20% of whisky consumed in the UK the bulk would be branded products largely unaffected by MAP. I don't know the percentage of whisky actually drink in Scotland but if I was guessing maybe only 1-2% of the total. Deduct from this unaffected branded products then the own labeled 'value' products which would be affected by MAP must be very small indeed.

Surprise announcement today that David Frost the Chief Executive of Scottish Whisky Association has resigned. He is going to work as a special advisor to Boris Johnson in the Foreign Office. Starts his new job on 4th November.

IMHO this proposal is without merit, much as is the minimum price scheme. Neither will have any effect on the problem. More civilised countries have no such restrictions, cheaper alcohol and easier access without silly timetables, without the drunken behaviour seen by many British both at home and abroad. I fear I do not know the answer to the problem as it seems to be an ingrained part of British "culture", although the majority of citizens drink and act responsibly. Is poverty the cause? I don't think so, as young people from affluent backgrounds are also affected. There is poverty in other countries without the same result. I wish I knew the solution, but neither pricing nor the tightening of already illogical licensing hours will achieve anything.

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Just because we disagree doesn't mean I don't like you, and just because I don't like you doesn't mean I disagree with you.

IMHO this proposal is without merit, much as is the minimum price scheme. Neither will have any effect on the problem. More civilised countries have no such restrictions, cheaper alcohol and easier access without silly timetables, without the drunken behaviour seen by many British both at home and abroad. I fear I do not know the answer to the problem as it seems to be an ingrained part of British "culture", although the majority of citizens drink and act responsibly. Is poverty the cause? I don't think so, as young people from affluent backgrounds are also affected. There is poverty in other countries without the same result. I wish I knew the solution, but neither pricing nor the tightening of already illogical licensing hours will achieve anything.

Easy for you to say Ian But last time i looked Reading wasn't in Scotland,

If that is the reason why is Spain, Greece and Portugal devoid of (except in the case of dysfunctional U.K. drunks) of all violent, aggressive and dangerous drunks. Yet are subject to freely available cheap alcohol on a 24 hour per day basis???

If that is the reason why is Spain, Greece and Portugal devoid of (except in the case of dysfunctional U.K. drunks) of all violent, aggressive and dangerous drunks. Yet are subject to freely available cheap alcohol on a 24 hour per day basis???

Ermm,perhaps they have a different mentality in those countries talisman

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